The delegates see off Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and Vietnam's high-ranking delegation to the US. (Photo: VNA)

On the occasion, PM Pham Minh Chinh led a high-ranking Vietnamese delegation to pay a working visit to the US and the United Nations (UN) from May 11-17. His trip continues to affirm Vietnam’s position and role in promoting ASEAN cooperation, strengthening its comprehensive partnership with the US, and making responsible and effective contributions to common issues of the international community.

Since its establishment in 1977, the ASEAN – US dialogue partnership has achieved many positive results in many fields and key pillars of political-security and economic, cultural and social cooperation. Over the past 45 years, the trust between the two sides has been continuously improved. Meanwhile, trade and investment cooperation has been enhanced and people-to-people exchanges have been fostered. The two sides upgraded their relationship to a strategic partnership in 2015. However, amid rapid changes with the many complicated issues of the region and the world, the requirement of strengthening and deepening ASEAN – US relations is becoming more urgent and has been a common concern for both two sides. The ASEAN-US Special Summit, on the occasion of the 45th anniversary of ASEAN – US relations, is an opportunity for them to affirm their cooperation commitments towards building trust while reinforcing trade and economic ties and people-to-people exchanges.

Vietnam and the US established diplomatic relations in 1995. In the past 27 years, their relations have made important progresses on the basis of mutual benefits and respect for each other’s independence, sovereignty, territorial integrity, and political institutions. In 2013, Vietnam and the US established a comprehensive partnership. The US is one of leading partners and major investors in Vietnam. The cooperation on defence-security and overcoming war consequences has been maintained. The two countries have also boosted their cooperation in many fields such as climate change adaptation, education-training and exchanges of regional and international issues. They have worked closely in COVID-19 prevention and control. The US ranks first among the countries that provided vaccines to Vietnam through the COVAX mechanism. Meanwhile, Vietnam supported the US with protective equipment and face masks.

Since Vietnam joined the UN in 1977, the cooperation between Vietnam and the UN has developed strongly while gainingpositive results. Vietnam has been always a responsible member that has made significant contributions to the common work of the UN, including the implementation of the sustainable development goals, the participation in UN peacekeeping activities and many positions and roles at the UN’s agencies. Vietnam’s success in serving twice as a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council has affirmed the new international position and stature of Vietnam. The agencies and organisations under the UN highly valued Vietnam’s contributions and actively assisted Vietnam in implementing socio-economic development goals, pandemic control, climate change response and sustainable development.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh's trip to attend the ASEAN-US Special Summit marking the 45th anniversary of ASEAN-US relations and pay a working visit to the US and the UN is aims to carry out Vietnam’s foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, peace, cooperation and development, and the diversification and multilateralisation of foreign relations. The Government leader’s attendance at the ASEAN-US Special Summit once again affirmed Vietnam's active and responsible role in ASEAN cooperation as well as upheld the association’s central role and promote ASEAN-US strategic cooperation. The Prime Minister’s visit to the US and the UN will create a new impetus for the enhancement of the comprehensive partnership between Vietnam and the US in a deeper and more stable manner while reinforcing the comprehensive cooperation between Vietnam and the UN.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh's working visit to Vietnamese community in the US within his trip affirms that the Party and State have always cared about the Vietnamese community and hope that they will continue making practical contributions to the homeland’s development.

May Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh’s trip be crowned with success, thus contributing to affirming Vietnam’s role, responsibility and effective contributions to reinforcing the partnership between the US and ASEAN, particularly Vietnam, and the comprehensive cooperation between Vietnam and the UN.